Markey to host major conference on neuroendocrine cancer

For the 120,000 patients in the U.S. already living with neuroendocrine cancer, the sudden flushing or recurring stomach aches aren’t symptoms of common ailments. Sometimes they are indications of the rarely-understood neuroendocrine cancer. The UK Markey Cancer Center, in conjunction with the Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network (NCAN), will host the 2017 Neuroendocrine Cancer Patient Conference on Saturday, April 22, in order to provide support and information for those dealing with this disease.

Centered around educating neuroendocrine cancer patients, family members and caretakers, the conference features presentations on recently published information by Markey specialists Dr. Lowell Anthony, Dr. Riham El Khouli and Dr. Aman Chauhan, as well as nationally known neuroendocrine expert Dr. Larry Kvols.

“Because neuroendocrine cancers are relatively rare, many cases of neuroendocrine cancer are misdiagnosed or incorrectly treated,” Anthony said. “It’s our goal to help patients across the country dealing with this disease. This conference is designed specifically for them, with useful information they can use to be an advocate for their own healthcare.”

Specific points of discussion will include the recently FDA-approved drug telotristat ethyl (Xermelo) along with other emerging therapeutics options for managing neuroendocrine tumors and carcinomas. Afternoon sessions include personal presentations from patients on their experiences with the disease, as well as a support group session.

For NCAN president Maryann Wahmann, the conference also provides an opportunity to show patients dealing with neuroendocrine cancers that they’re not alone in their battle.

“Doctors are taught, ‘when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras,’ ” said Wahmann. “But more than 12,000 times a year in the U.S., the diagnosis proves that those hooves belong to a zebra.”